USA vs. Mercer 1 box score

USA vs. Mercer 2 box score

MOBILE, Ala. — The University of South Alabama softball team swept Mercer in a mid-week doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Jaguar Field. The Jaguars shut out the Bears 3-0 in game one before downing Mercer 3-1 in game two.

“Overall today, we had good pitching and good defense,” said USA head coach Becky Clark. “I would have liked to see us hit a little bit more today, but that’s something we’re working on. It’s there we’re just working on getting it together.”

With the wins, USA improved to 31-14 on the year while Mercer fell to 24-26 overall and continued an 11-game losing streak.

Game 1 – USA 3, Mercer 0

Freshman Farish Beard (4-2) picked up the win in game one after recording a career-high 14 strikeouts in seven innings of work. Beard allowed only three hits in the contest and walked one. The Bears’ Kassie Bailey (9-13) took the loss giving up seven hits and three runs.

“Farish did a great job on the mound in game one,” Clark said. “She controlled the strike zone and, when they started making adjustments to her and staying off the high stuff, she adjusted with them. I was happy to see her go all seven against them.”

Junior Brittany Fowler was USA’s offensive power in game one going 2-for-3 and pushing in all three runs of the contest. Freshman Alyssa Linn also put up a pair of hits while scoring two of the three runs. Junior Britany Campbell had one hit in one at-bat and scored the other Jaguar run. Senior Christin Crocker and junior Meghan Collins added a hit each.

“Offensively, we did enough,” said Clark. “We could’ve done more, but we did enough.”

The Jags jumped ahead to the early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning after a hit, a Bear error and a passed ball sent B. Campbell and Linn home. Bailey walked freshman Alex Breeden to lead off the inning before she advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by freshman Kaitlyn Griffith. Bailey then issued her second walk of the third to B. Campbell. The pair moved to second and third, respectively, on a passed ball. Linn reached on an error by Mercer shortstop Sara Stukes loading the bases with one out in the inning. The Bears got the second out when second baseman Krista Kennedy threw out Breeden at home allowing freshman Blair Johnson to reach on a fielder’s choice. A Fowler single to right field would be enough to push Linn and B. Campbell across and give USA the 2-0 advantage.

South Alabama was able to score one more in the fifth when another Fowler single through the left side plated Linn for the second time.

Game 2 – USA 3, Mercer 1

USA completed the sweep of Mercer with a 3-1 win in game two of the doubleheader.

Senior Katy Neal (7-3) got the win in the circle after tossing five innings and allowing one run and two hits. Sophomore Hannah Campbell tallied her second save of the season with two innings of hitless relief. Mercer’s Kerri Nidiffer dropped to 4-7 on the season after suffering the loss.

“In game two, Katy pitched out of some jams,” Clark said. “Then Hannah was able to come in and close it out for us.

The Bears got on the board first in game two when Bailey singled to left field scoring McKenzie Woody, but South Alabama’s Collins was quick to respond with a lead-off homer to left field tying the game 1-1.

 The Jags took the lead in the home half of the third inning. Linn pushed Griffith across when she grounded out to the shortstop. Senior Haley Hopkins sealed the deal with a solo shot off the scoreboard with two outs in the fourth.  

The Bears tried to rally in the top of the fifth when a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs, but B. Campbell made a diving catch in center field to end the inning and the Mercer threat.

“That play was huge,” said Clark. “That goes back to the defensive part of it. We’ve played solid defense all year. Our team defense is No. 1 in the conference so that’s one thing we know we can count on. I can watch Britany play center field all day long. She thrives in that situation, she loves it and she makes those plays. You know if the ball is hit to the grass, it goes there to die.”

USA will continue its home stand with a Sun Belt Conference weekend series against FIU Saturday and Sunday at Jaguar Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).